From what I heard from the research captain, they couldn't climb beyond 650 feet because the winds became too strong - so strong, apparently, that even when they tried to use light magic to at least try to see something in the stratified darkness, the winds would dissipate the mana too quickly. However, at the moment right after casting the light magic, one of the members of the investigation had seen something.
«There was something looking at me through the darkness».
The member who saw it could not explain in detail what it looked like, how big it was, or what general shape it had. However, he was sure he had seen something.
«The wind was too strong. I couldn't even open my eyes wide. We must take into account the possibility that he was wrong...»
The research captain did not seem to trust his companion's words, but although he did not simply believe the story, he had a different idea.
«Then we'll just have to check it one more time».
«One... time more?»
«Yes, go up and use light magic again. Then you can see if there really is something there.»
«...Our members are exhausted. Could we rest today and resume our investigation tomorrow?»
Tomorrow...
It would be a lie to say that I didn't mind giving them time, but he was the generous-hearted barbarian commander. «Of course.»
The face of the research captain illuminates a poco before me permission.
...Was he resisting on purpose just to give his team a break?
He couldn't help but hesitate, but being generous with subordinates was one of the characteristics of a good commander.
And so, the investigation resumed the next day, after the members of the investigation department rested.
«I saw it too...! Something was watching me!»
A similar account of a witness gives him a return from him second research team, and they could even record a video using a recording crystal to capture the changing form. However, the opinion of los who checked the recording fue fire.
«It's hard to distinguish with how dark the background is».
«Perhaps it is an illusion created by a refraction of the magic of the light orb...»
«I think it's something else. See that? That's the eye, that's the nose... If you look at it like that, you can definitely start to see a face...»
«¡Eek! I verdad. ¡I la silhouette de una person!»
«...From the lie.»
Honestly, it seemed less like a meeting of experts trying to clean an apartment and more like miembros of an occult club reviewing an abandoned building.
...The glass recording is not clear.
I had also checked the recording, but it was difficult to get anything concrete out of it.
But we have him recount of a witness to hear more.
Not one, but two. A statistically significant difference. Now there was a little more legitimacy to the claim that something was up there.
Something was hidden in those furious winds. Even if it wasn't a «person» like the guys were claiming.
«Hmm...» I sank deeper into my thoughts, knowing that what I had to do now was clear.
How to get there?
A method to cross the harsh winds and reach that unknown entity. I had to find a method.
«Research captain, now you will investigate that place. Use your own judgment. I will give you the authority to mobilize as many resources as you need».
I first allowed the research captain to go into self-investigation mode, making it clear that nothing would happen if he made mistakes or wasted resources, so he could try any method he could think of. In exchange, I asked him to come and report everything he found.
I mean, I don't expect this old man to investigate with creative means.
Still, I'd probably find something.
After that, I announced that I would go organize my thoughts and return to my room.
«(Do things seem to be going not well?)»
«(Oh, have you heard that?)» I picked Hamsick up from the bed where he had been reading a book and made him sit down before sitting down in front of him and sharing my situation. I had a little hope, but unfortunately, Hamsick could only listen to my problems. He had no ability to give me advice.
«(It's understandable that you're having a hard time)».
«(That's all?)»
«(What? What do you expect me to do?)»
Maybe because he spent the day reading books, Hamsick had gotten a little colder on me lately. Before it was much softer and sweeter.
Are you going through puberty?
Hamsick looked away from me and read his book again, and I lay on the bed mulling over my thoughts.
What could he do to overcome that obstacle and reach heaven? We needed a way to lift a hundred people through the storm and hundreds of meters into the sky, and I couldn't think of one easily.
I don't think it's something we can do using magic. Hmm... So we need to meet a condition to allow an event?
It was an assumption that came straight from my gamer brain, but since this was the world of Dungeon and Stone, that thought process could provide something that was at least close to useful.
An event…
One thing came directly to mind.
Just after the rainy season ended, the rainbow pillar shone brighter than anything else we had seen on the underground floor. That pillar of light stood for about five minutes before disappearing. Naturally, at the time I just thought it was a beacon.
But what if we were here while that was happening? Would a new event appear?
It was a plausible guess, although the condition that had to be met was quite difficult.
We are about four weeks from the nearest island.
Since the stone gate island containing the guardian stone statues sank into the ocean, our closest island to this was Library Island. If we used the mana propulsion system, we could reduce the travel time quite a bit, but not enough for it to matter. No matter what we did, the rainy season would end before we could arrive.
Simply put, if we want to be here when the pillar of light is created, we have no choice but to face the rainy season head-on...
If all my guesses were correct, then it was also suspicious why Rainbow Island was so far from all the other islands.
Well, it was okay if I was wrong.
We can continue investigating up to that point, and if I can't find another method by then, we can just try.
That was my conclusion.
***
One day, of the days, three days, four days ...
The time I spent on the boat in the windless area passed quickly. For some, it was the busiest we had been in a long time, but others got bored like crazy in peace.
«...We have found it! Commander!»
«You found it!»
Those who were busiest were the members of the research department. Under the commander's order, they tried all kinds of strange tests every day, and failed every day they tried.
The test they carried out today consisted of sending a drone. It was a decent plan: tie a recording crystal to the end of an arrow and calculate where it would land to retrieve it later and see what it found.
«Open it now! Don't get lost. What are you...?»
«Well... It doesn't activate... It looks like it was damaged due to the fall».
The face of the research captain, who had spent three days on this attempt - including the days of preparation - hardened. «Can you fix it?»
«It's not just a discharge in the circuits, it's completely broken. It will be difficult».
I sighed. At this point I was starting to feel bad for the guy. Honestly, I wanted to tell him that I had done well and that I could rest now, but since he kept bringing decent plans every time one failed, I had sat idly by.
There's a reason he's the research captain...
He had been put in that position on Gahuin's recommendation, and he fit the role more perfectly than I would have imagined.
I was also a little surprised when he said he would investigate the ocean at the same time.
The research captain was also investigating the ocean, and one of the most innovative plans he suggested was to attach the recording glass to a heavyweight. The weight would magically come off after a certain time and another spell would create an air bubble so it could rise to the surface and be recovered.
However, the structural durability of the recording glass was the problem. Even after applying multiple layers of protective magic, when we recovered him from the mission, he had been crushed by the immense pressure.
«...When I return to the city, I will make a recording crystal that can work under any circumstances, one that never breaks no matter what happens to it».
Hmm, maybe that's how technological progress was made. As the saying went, failure was the mother of success, right?
If something like this exists, venturing out will be much more comfortable.
That said, things were going smoothly even without it. With so many people around me who would be considered aces in their fields, I didn't need to do anything for myself. I was the person who probably got the most bored of doing nothing.
There is nothing to do. Let's patrol.
As I walked around the boats that were now floating side by side, I could tell that there weren't as many people on deck as before. It was true that we didn't need so many people on guard because there were no aquatic monsters here.
Still, why isn't anyone here?
I approached one of the people who worked on the deck and he said something I wasn't expecting.
«Everyone is hiding in their rooms. They don't want to risk being discovered by the investigation captain». When I gave him a look of bewilderment, he explained: «Didn't you give him the authority, your honor? The authority to use anything at your disposal».
«Ah...»
The man sighed. «If I hadn't gone out then to finally get some fresh air... I just had to meet his eyes...».
Seeing that I was a victim of this phenomenon, I was inclined to believe what he said. I walked away quickly, starting to feel sorry for him.
And so, after touring the four ships and returning to my ship...
«¡Bjoooooorn!»
«Please call me command-»
Ainar threw his spear to the ground and ran towards me. «Save me! I want to rest...!»
Hey, it's a very expensive spear.
I was about to be startled when I saw Verdurous's giant spear roll on the ground, but first I dodged Ainar's tackle and took a look at what was happening on deck.
«¡Ack!»
Amelia clicked her tongue when she saw Ainar roll forward. It seemed that for the moment he had been sparring against Ainar...
But there was nothing strange.
«Are you training again today?» asked.
«Anyway, I have nothing to do alone». Amelia had made time to train Ainar when we were on Village Island and had continued her sessions while we traveled.
«She's only like that because of her Aggression statistic», I said. «He will do well when he gets back to normal, even without you asking him to do this».
«I know. But I'm going to continue training her until that happens. Are you going to stop me?»
«Not at all. I'll leave Ainar to you». Rather, I was grateful to Amelia. She was essentially doing my job for me.
It seems like he has grown fond of others too.
It was good to see him. Especially because he was helping Ainar because he wanted to, not because I asked him to.
«Swing your spear if you want to rest. Our sparring today will end if you touch me even once».
«¡B-Behel…la…!»
With that, Ainar seemed to regain some of his motivation as he brandished his spear, and I watched his fight for a while from afar before moving forward.
***
About three days before the rainy season began again, I opened the leaders' meeting for the first time in a long time, and made a single statement.
«The investigation will end today».
«Sorry ...?» He investigative captain looks at me with a expression of improper surprise from a magician.
Hmm, I sincerely hoped the old man would be happy with the news.
Carefully, he said: «I'm sorry I disappointed you. Even though I gave myself so much time, I wasn't able to...»
No, I didn't say it to reprimand you.
I felt like there was a misunderstanding, so I quickly interrupted. «I'm not disappointed. On the contrary, I think you've struggled more than lo that nadie was waiting for and heicste all he's walking. Yes in the leak for you, we had been able to learn so much ».
They were warm and unexpected words on the part of the stoic barbarian commander. Usually in the dicho had all this, but he wanted to reconociate the capabilities of the research captain and the genuine spherzo that there was puest in this endeavor.
«...Thank you». With that brief response to the respect I paid him, he carefully asked another question. «But I suspect the reason you're stopping the investigation is also because of the rainy season, right?».
«Your assumption is correct, but also wrong».
«Sorry?»
«The investigation is stopped due to the rainy season, but we are not going anywhere to avoid the rainy season. No, instead, we're going to finish the investigation early so we can prepare».
I turned to look past the research captain at everyone present.
«We will spend the rainy season here».
We needed to be well prepared for this.